Collapsible adjustable supporting base for pinball machines



May 19, 1953 o, ALLEN 2,639,114

4 COLLAPSIBLE'ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING BASE FBR PINBALL MACHINES Filed Oct. '14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ormand E Allen INVENTOR.

May 19, 1953 0.5. ALLEN 2,639,114

COLLAPSIBI-E ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING I BASE FOR PINBALL MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3.

F Ormand E. Allen IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 19, 1953 COLLAPSIBLE ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING BASE FOR PINBALL MACHINES Ormand E. Allen, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio Application October 14, 1949, Serial No. 121,391

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in supporting bases for pinball machines and other types of amusement devices and more particularly, to the provision of adjusting means for the machines to support the same in a level position and to prevent shaking or tilting of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible supporting base of this character which may be easily and quickly set up in position for supporting the pinball machine thereon and which may be easily carried and stored, when not in use.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the supporting base in open position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the base in folded position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4 Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-4; of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the base in folded position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration are disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the supporting base generally which includes a pair of side walls 5 and end walls 1, each being constructed to provide legs 8.

The end walls 1 are composed of a pair of sections 9 and [0 connected to each other at the center of the end wall by hinges II for inward folding or collapsing movement and the vertical side edges of the end walls I are connected to the side walls 6 by hinges l2 for folding the end walls inwardly of the side walls into a compact collapsed or folded position as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings.

A rear adjustable batten or rail I3 is formed with vertical slots I4 at its lower edge and is se- 2 cured in a horizontal position to the inside of one of the end walls 1 by bolts and wing nuts l5 positioned in the slots H to adjust the rail l3 vertically on either or both of the bolts and wing nuts IS.

A front batten or rail I6 is also formed with vertical slot H in its lower portions and is secured at the inside of the other end wall 1 by bolts and wing nuts l8 to likewise adjust the front rail I6 vertically on either or both of the bolts or wing nuts.

A conventional type of hinge structure I9 is secured by one hinge plate 20 to the front rail IS in a position for attaching its other hinge plate 2| to the underside or bottom of a pinball machine 22 by a bolt and wing nut 23 to support the front and rear ends of the machine on the rails 16 and I3.

In the operation of the device, the supporting base 5 is set up in its open position as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and the rails or battens I3 and I6 secured to the inside of the front and rear end walls I to hold the end walls from folding or collapsing movement.

The pinball machine 22 is then set in the top of base 5 to rest onthe front and rear rails l6 and I3 and the machine is secured to the front rail l6 by the bolt and wing nut 23 engaging the hinge IS. The front and rear rails may then be adjusted vertically by means of the bolts and wing nuts l5 and I8 to level the machine in the base.

A pair of rails 24 are also secured to the inside of the side walls 6 of the base to prevent accidental dropping of the machine 22 in the base while the front and rear rails are being adjusted, or while the machine is being set up in the supporting base.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A supporting base for a coin controlled machine comprising a pair of opposite side walls and end walls each including a pairof sections hinged to the side walls and having vertical edges hinged together for folding of said end walls inwardly between said side walls, said base adapted to receive a machine within the upper portion of the same, and means on said end wall adapted to support a machine and to prevent the end walls from folding comprising horizontal rails extended across said end walls adjacent the upper edges thereoran'd across .the hinged together edges of the sections, and vertical slots in said rails and bolts on said sections extending through said slots and providing for vertical sliding and tilting of said rails to level the machine. 7

ORMANDI=E.;AI1LEN.

References Cited in the file 0! this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Feist Dec. 31, 1912 Winter Nov. 21, 1922 McFarland Sept. 5, 1939 Tautz July 27, 1943 Horr Aug. 10, 1943 Webb etal. 'May 2, 1944 

